Don't Cry Out Loud (song)
Encyclopedia
"Don't Cry Out Loud" is the title of a song written in 1976 by Peter Allen
with lyricist Carole Bayer Sager
which is best known as a hit single for Melissa Manchester
in the US and for Elkie Brooks
in the UK.
on the December 1976 album release Moments With You produced by Sylvia Robinson
; this track - entitled "We Don't Cry Out Loud" - had a single release to chart at #79 R&B
in 1977. Peter Allen himself included a version of the song on his 1977 live album It is Time For Peter Allen with the track having a December 1977 single release. Allen's studio recording of his song was introduced on his 1979 album release I Could Have Been a Sailor
. Allen also would include "Don't Cry Out Loud" on the 1985 live album, Captured Live at Carnegie Hall.
president Clive Davis
who felt that Manchester's intended 1979 album release lacked a potential Top 40 comeback hit. Davis assigned production of the track to Harry Maslin, who had co-produced the David Bowie
albums Young Americans
and Station to Station
but whose most recent production work had been with Arista bubblegum
act Bay City Rollers
. Although Manchester herself regularly collaborated with lyricist Carole Bayer Sager - their output including Manchester's sole (to that point) Top Ten hit "Midnight Blue
" - Harry Maslin would recall that Manchester "hated the song ["Don't Cry Out Loud"] and was angry with me for doing it [i.e. producing Manchester's recording]"; "I think that's why I got such a wonderful vocal out of her". Recorded at Allen Zentz Studios Hollywood, "Don't Cry Out Loud" was released 11 October 1978 and did indeed reach the Top 40 at the end of 1978 rising to a #10 peak on the Billboard Hot 100
twenty weeks later in March 1979.
In 2004 Manchester would say of "Don't Cry Out Loud": "I finally understand what it meant...I [originally] thought it was a brilliant song but it seemed like the antithesis of everything Carole [Bayer Sager] and I were writing which was always about self-affirmation and crying out and sharpening your communication skills. But it's a beautifully crafted song that was all about how in the end you just have to learn to cope - and that's no easy thing."
by Elkie Brooks for the UK market with Gus Dudgeon
producing. Entering the UK Top 50 dated 11 November 1978 - the same date as the Billboard Hot 100 debut of Manchester's version - Brooks' "Don't Cry Out Loud" had reached #12 on the UK Top 50 dated 16 December 1978 - two weeks before Manchester's version reached the US Top 40 - ; however Brooks' version did not match the sustained impact enjoyed by Manchester's US single, with Brooks' version descending from #12 and out of the UK Top 50 by the end of January 1979. Brooks' "Don't Cry Out Loud" was not featured on its singer's 1979 album release Live and Learn instead making a belated debut as an album track on Brook's alltime bestseller Pearls released in 1981. The song would later serve as title track for Brooks' 2005 live album release cut in 2004. In 2009 Brooks stated: "Many years ago I was persuaded to do a lot of songs I wasn't particularly keen on. 'Don't Cry Out Loud' was one of them - but over the years I have [grown] to like it!"
's performance of "Don't Cry Out Loud" took the took the Grand Prize at the Tokyo Music Festival
held 17 June 1979 with Coolidge's album featuring the track and named for it becoming a Top 20 Japanese bestseller that summer.
"Don't Cry Out Loud" was recorded by Diana DeGarmo
for inclusion on her 2004 single release helmed by the track "Dreams (Diana DeGarmo song)";Clive Davis selected "Don't Cry Out Loud" for DeGarmo to sing and Melissa Manchester attended the recording session at DeGarmo's recording session giving the last-named singer pointers on how to sing the song.
The song has also been recorded by John Barrowman
, Shirley Bassey
, Joe Longthorne
("We Don't Cry Out Loud"), Sandra Reemer
and Shirley Zwerus.
In the Peter Allen stage bio-jukebox musical
The Boy from Oz
, "Don't Cry Out Loud" is performed by the character of Allen's mother Marion Woolnough; Beth Fowler
is featured on the track on the 2003 original Broadway cast recording.
Miss America
1980 Cheryl Prewitt
- Miss Mississippi
1979 - sang "Don't Cry Out Loud" to her own piano accompaniment in the talent competition of the Miss America Pageant broadcast on NBC
9 September 1979 from Convention Hall in Atlantic City.
Liza Minnelli
sang "Don't Cry Out Loud" as part of her 7-night "Liza's Back" engagement, June 2002. Minnelli, who was once married to Peter Allen, sang only the first verse and altered the chorus, imploring the listener to "Cry out loud, don't keep it inside. Don't learn how to hide your feelings." The song was part of a short cycle revolving around the idea of crying.
Peter Allen
Peter Allen was an Australian songwriter and entertainer. His songs were made popular by many recording artists, including Elkie Brooks, Melissa Manchester and Olivia Newton-John, with one, Arthur's Theme, winning an Academy Award in 1981...
with lyricist Carole Bayer Sager
Carole Bayer Sager
Carole Bayer Sager is an American lyricist, songwriter, singer, and painter.-Introduction:Born in New York City, Sager graduated from New York University, where she majored in English, dramatic arts and speech...
which is best known as a hit single for Melissa Manchester
Melissa Manchester
Melissa Manchester is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Beginning in the 1970s, she has recorded generally in the adult contemporary genre. She has also appeared as an actress on television, in films, and on stage....
in the US and for Elkie Brooks
Elkie Brooks
Elkie Brooks is an English singer, formerly a vocalist with Vinegar Joe, and later a solo artist. Elkie has been nominated twice for Brit Awards' top female singer. She is known for her powerful husky voice...
in the UK.
Early versions
The first evident recording of the song is by the MomentsRay, Goodman & Brown
Ray, Goodman & Brown is an American R&B vocal group. The group originated as The Moments, who formed in the mid-1960s and whose greatest successes came in the 1970s with hits including "Love on a Two-Way Street", "Sexy Mama" and "Look at Me "...
on the December 1976 album release Moments With You produced by Sylvia Robinson
Sylvia Robinson
Sylvia Robinson was an American singer, musician, record producer, and record label executive, most notably known for her work as founder/CEO of the hip hop label Sugar Hill Records. She is credited as the driving force behind two landmark singles in the genre...
; this track - entitled "We Don't Cry Out Loud" - had a single release to chart at #79 R&B
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
in 1977. Peter Allen himself included a version of the song on his 1977 live album It is Time For Peter Allen with the track having a December 1977 single release. Allen's studio recording of his song was introduced on his 1979 album release I Could Have Been a Sailor
I Could Have Been a Sailor
I Could Have Been A Sailor is a 1979 album by singer-songwriter Peter Allen, released on A & M Records. It is notable as containing Allen's versions of his songs "Don't Cry Out Loud" and "I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love", which were major successes, as covered by others.-History:I Could Have...
. Allen also would include "Don't Cry Out Loud" on the 1985 live album, Captured Live at Carnegie Hall.
Melissa Manchester version
Melissa Manchester recorded "Don't Cry Out Loud" at the strong suggestion of Arista RecordsArista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
president Clive Davis
Clive Davis
Clive Davis is an American record producer and music industry executive. He has won five Grammy Awards and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer. From 1967 to 1973 he was the President of Columbia Records. He was the founder and president of Arista Records from 1975...
who felt that Manchester's intended 1979 album release lacked a potential Top 40 comeback hit. Davis assigned production of the track to Harry Maslin, who had co-produced the David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
albums Young Americans
Young Americans (album)
Young Americans, released in 1975, shows off David Bowie’s 1970’s shift to his “obsession” with soul music . For this album, Bowie let go of the influences he had drawn from in the past, replacing them with sounds from “local dance halls”, which, at the time, were blaring with “…lush strings,...
and Station to Station
Station to Station
Station to Station is the tenth studio album by English musician David Bowie, released by RCA Records in 1976. Commonly regarded as one of his most significant works, Station to Station is also notable as the vehicle for Bowie's last great 'character', The Thin White Duke...
but whose most recent production work had been with Arista bubblegum
Bubblegum pop
Bubblegum pop is a genre of pop music with an upbeat sound contrived and marketed to appeal to pre-teens and teenagers, produced in an assembly-line process, driven by producers, often using unknown singers.Bubblegum's classic period ran from 1967 to 1972...
act Bay City Rollers
Bay City Rollers
The Bay City Rollers were a Scottish pop band who were most popular in the 1970s. The British Hit Singles & Albums noted that they were "tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh", and were "the first of many acts heralded as the 'Biggest Group since The Beatles' and one of the most screamed-at...
. Although Manchester herself regularly collaborated with lyricist Carole Bayer Sager - their output including Manchester's sole (to that point) Top Ten hit "Midnight Blue
Midnight Blue (Melissa Manchester song)
"Midnight Blue" is a single by Melissa Manchester which reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1975 when it topped the Billboard Easy Listening chart for two weeks to become the #1 Easy Listening hit for the year 1975.....
" - Harry Maslin would recall that Manchester "hated the song ["Don't Cry Out Loud"] and was angry with me for doing it [i.e. producing Manchester's recording]"; "I think that's why I got such a wonderful vocal out of her". Recorded at Allen Zentz Studios Hollywood, "Don't Cry Out Loud" was released 11 October 1978 and did indeed reach the Top 40 at the end of 1978 rising to a #10 peak on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
twenty weeks later in March 1979.
In 2004 Manchester would say of "Don't Cry Out Loud": "I finally understand what it meant...I [originally] thought it was a brilliant song but it seemed like the antithesis of everything Carole [Bayer Sager] and I were writing which was always about self-affirmation and crying out and sharpening your communication skills. But it's a beautifully crafted song that was all about how in the end you just have to learn to cope - and that's no easy thing."
Elkie Brooks version
The release of Manchester's version of "Don't Cry Out Loud" as a single in the US resulted in an expedient coverCover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Elkie Brooks for the UK market with Gus Dudgeon
Gus Dudgeon
Angus Boyd Dudgeon , most commonly known as Gus Dudgeon was an English record producer, most notable for production of many of Elton John's recordings.-Early career:...
producing. Entering the UK Top 50 dated 11 November 1978 - the same date as the Billboard Hot 100 debut of Manchester's version - Brooks' "Don't Cry Out Loud" had reached #12 on the UK Top 50 dated 16 December 1978 - two weeks before Manchester's version reached the US Top 40 - ; however Brooks' version did not match the sustained impact enjoyed by Manchester's US single, with Brooks' version descending from #12 and out of the UK Top 50 by the end of January 1979. Brooks' "Don't Cry Out Loud" was not featured on its singer's 1979 album release Live and Learn instead making a belated debut as an album track on Brook's alltime bestseller Pearls released in 1981. The song would later serve as title track for Brooks' 2005 live album release cut in 2004. In 2009 Brooks stated: "Many years ago I was persuaded to do a lot of songs I wasn't particularly keen on. 'Don't Cry Out Loud' was one of them - but over the years I have [grown] to like it!"
Other versions
Rita CoolidgeRita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American vocalist. During the 1970s and 1980s, she charted hits on Billboard's Pop, Country, Adult Contemporary and Jazz charts.-Career:...
's performance of "Don't Cry Out Loud" took the took the Grand Prize at the Tokyo Music Festival
Tokyo Music Festival
The Tokyo Music Festival was an international music contest that ran from 1972 to 1991. It was organised by the Tokyo Music Festival Association...
held 17 June 1979 with Coolidge's album featuring the track and named for it becoming a Top 20 Japanese bestseller that summer.
"Don't Cry Out Loud" was recorded by Diana DeGarmo
Diana DeGarmo
Diana Nicole DeGarmo is an American singer and Broadway actress. She finished as the runner-up on the third season of the reality/talent-search television series American Idol, narrowly missing the win by about 2% out of over 65 million votes...
for inclusion on her 2004 single release helmed by the track "Dreams (Diana DeGarmo song)";Clive Davis selected "Don't Cry Out Loud" for DeGarmo to sing and Melissa Manchester attended the recording session at DeGarmo's recording session giving the last-named singer pointers on how to sing the song.
The song has also been recorded by John Barrowman
John Barrowman
John Scot Barrowman is a Scottish-American singer, actor, dancer, musical theatre performer and media personality. Born in Glasgow yet growing up in Illinois after his family emigrated to the United States when he was eight years old, Barrowman was encouraged to further his love for music and...
, Shirley Bassey
Shirley Bassey
Dame Shirley Bassey, DBE , is a Welsh singer. She found fame in the late 1950s and was "one of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during the last half of the 20th century"...
, Joe Longthorne
Joe Longthorne
Joe Longthorne is an English singer of Romani ethnicity, who has performed in several Royal Variety Performances.-Biography:...
("We Don't Cry Out Loud"), Sandra Reemer
Sandra Reemer
Barbara Alexandra "Sandra" Reemer is a Dutch Indo singer of Dutch, Chinese and Javanese extraction...
and Shirley Zwerus.
In the Peter Allen stage bio-jukebox musical
Jukebox musical
A jukebox musical is a stage or film musical that uses previously released popular songs as its musical score. Usually the songs have in common a connection with a particular popular musician or group — either because they were written by, or for, the artists in question, or were at least...
The Boy from Oz
The Boy from Oz
The Boy from Oz is a jukebox musical based on the life of singer/songwriter Peter Allen and featuring songs written by him. The book is by Nick Enright. The production had its world premiere, directed by Gale Edwards, at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, Australia, on 5 March 1998 and toured Brisbane,...
, "Don't Cry Out Loud" is performed by the character of Allen's mother Marion Woolnough; Beth Fowler
Beth Fowler
Beth Fowler is an American actress and singer.Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Fowler was a teacher with a fondness for Broadway theatre when she decided to audition for Gantry in 1970. She was signed for the chorus and as understudy for the lead, but the show unfortunately closed on opening night...
is featured on the track on the 2003 original Broadway cast recording.
Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
1980 Cheryl Prewitt
Cheryl Prewitt
Cheryl Prewitt , from Ackerman, Mississippi was Miss America 1980. Cheryl Prewitt-Salem grew up in the community of Chester in Choctaw County, Mississippi. She is now married to Harry Salem, . She has two sons and a daughter who is deceased...
- Miss Mississippi
Miss Mississippi
:For the state pageant affiliated with Miss USA, see Miss Mississippi USAMiss Mississippi is a scholarship pageant and a preliminary of Miss America. The contest began in 1934, has been held in Vicksburg since 1958, and provides more money than any other scholarship pageant in the Miss America...
1979 - sang "Don't Cry Out Loud" to her own piano accompaniment in the talent competition of the Miss America Pageant broadcast on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
9 September 1979 from Convention Hall in Atlantic City.
Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
sang "Don't Cry Out Loud" as part of her 7-night "Liza's Back" engagement, June 2002. Minnelli, who was once married to Peter Allen, sang only the first verse and altered the chorus, imploring the listener to "Cry out loud, don't keep it inside. Don't learn how to hide your feelings." The song was part of a short cycle revolving around the idea of crying.